Novel glass-based shield to block ultraviolet rays

Beijing, Jan 21 (IANS) Chinese researchers have created a special glass that can help protect living cells by absorbing and blocking damaging ultraviolet rays.

Out in space, where the level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can be even higher, it can damage sensitive electronics aboard in-flight spacecraft.

In this study published in the journal Optical Materials Express, the team demonstrated that the new glass effectively protects living cells and organic dyes, and believe it could also be developed as a transparent shield to protect electronics in space.

“Our glass shows excellent optical quality, and it can be easily fabricated either in bulk form or as a film,” said one of the researchers Shifeng Zhou from South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.